Yas Marina plans exciting expansion project

Already popular with the local community and boat owners alike, the existing marina facilities will be enhanced with the addition of a variety of new licensed food and beverage outlets, each featuring large terraces with panoramic marina views and surrounded by a pedestrian friendly promenade, interactive fountains, and children's play areas. This expansion will be complimented by the ever-growing diverse calendar of sporting, lifestyle and cultural events at Yas Marina.

The addition of a 230 metre pedestrian only waterfront promenade will provide an attractive place for families to stroll and communities to gather before transforming at night into a vibrant hub overlooking the iconic lights of the Yas Viceroy hotel.

Yas Island benefits from world class infrastructure, attractions and access which is attracting retailers and consumers alike. Yas Marina, located at the heart of Yas Island, is providing operators greater choice with which to open new concepts.

Yas Marina General Manager, Cedric Le Rest, stated "After successfully increasing berth occupancy this year by more than 150%, in 2013, we will be turning our attention towards developing Yas Marina as a destination, providing some fantastic additional offerings for the boating community and general public alike. The expansion project at Yas Marina will provide a unique bespoke offering with something for everyone from early morning to late night with an exciting selection of food and beverage outlets, community activities and events on offer."

"In addition to our own growth, Yas Island is fast becoming a unique lifestyle hub with the addition of further developments opening soon including Yas WaterWorld, the Yas Island Beach and the Yas Mall amongst others. We are excited about the next stage in our expansion and look forward to continue welcoming guests from all over the world to experience the wonderful waterways of Yas Island and the exciting destination that is Yas Marina".

With a selection of venues scheduled to undergo refurbishment during the expansion project, current venues including Cipriani, are preparing for the improvements.

"We are very excited about bringing an even better Cipriani experience to Yas Island guests", says Marco Boito, General Manager of Cipriani Yas Island. "Renowned the world over as ultimate providers of the Good Life, 'Cipriani style', this is just another way in which we will be enhancing our overall offering for our savvy and loyal clientele".

Allure and Yotto, also under the Cipriani Yas Island banner, are also scheduled to close in preparation for the Yas Marina expansion project.

Stars 'N' Bars, the marina's popular American sports bar, will remain open daily from 5pm on weekdays and from 11.30am on weekends.

Camper and Nicholson's have appointed Knight Frank, widely regarded as the pre-eminent market leader for high quality commercial properties to manage the expansion of the additional outlets. Matthew Dadd, Director, Commercial Leasing, Knight Frank commented, "We are pleased to be working with Camper & Nicholsons Marinas in developing an exemplary food and beverage retail development to Abu Dhabi. This expansion project will deliver an assortment of quality relaxed dining experiences surrounded by a wonderful family friendly promenade overlooking a picturesque marina: a unique offering which is currently not available anywhere else in the city. We are committed to delivering key innovative real estate developments and the Yas Marina expansion project is certainly one. The vision of Yas Island as a world class tourism destination will be enhanced by the uniqueness of Yas Marina. By delivering new food, beverage and community offerings we will create a waterside destination for all consumers to enjoy."

The expansion project, scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2013, will be managed by Camper & Nicholsons Marinas, who have a rich history of marina development including the 2005 development of their European flagship marina, Grand Harbour Marina in Malta, where they incorporated luxury facilities within the historic waterfront, in line with its UNESCO heritage status. The company is also currently developing a €350m, 600 berth marina in Limassol, Cyprus.